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Sunday, February 28, 2016

Movie Review: Aligarh

The Story
Frame:

Image Courtesy: Gackhollywood.com

Aligarh is based on true events linked to a 64 year-old man Dr. Shrinivas
Ramchandra Siras who taught Marathi at Aligarh Muslim University. A sting
operation conducted by a local TV channel showed him engaged in carnal
pleasures with a friend (a rickshaw puller). He was removed from his position
of Reader and Chair of Modern Indian Languages on charges of homosexuality. He
was an acclaimed writer, poet and a recipient of Maharastra Sahitya Parishad
Award for his contributions to Marathi literature. Though, he won the case
against the unlawful act of Aligarh Muslim University, destiny had something
else in store for him. Unfortunately, a good soul, a man who believed in love
and compassion was found dead in his flat under mysterious circumstances.

Aligarh is a biopic made by Director Hansal Mehta and it is written by
Apurva Asrani. Manoj Bajpai plays the role of the protagonist and Rajkummar Rao
essays the role of a scribe. It deals the subject of love through the eyes of a
homosexual, it raises some pertinent questions about our prejudices, biases and
notions of morality. It also places the spotlight on the controversial and much
debated Section 377, IPC that criminalizes homosexuality.

Hansal Mehta's film Aligarh is a lyrical expression of a man's
loneliness. A man whose name is Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras (Manoj Bajpai), who is
the only Marathi Professor amongst a Urdu speaking majority Aligarh city and
single in a residential area of married people and conservative families. He is
a man of letters with a flair to write poems in his mother tongue (Marathi),
who in his solitude find solace in the company of Lata Mangeshkar's old melodies while he down a
couple of pegs of his chosen spirit daily and occasionally seeking a partner who
just happens to be of the same sex to make him feel wanted to soothe his soul.
What is his offence? His offence is his choice of partner. A choice that does
not fall within the moral frame determined by the so called moral watchdogs of
the society. And, therefore, the voyeuristic society who often find pleasure
playing peeping toms sends their mercenaries armed with a video cam in the
middle of the night to Professor Siras' 21 Medical Colony flat of Aligarh
Muslim University, where he and his partner is filmed while they are engaged in
carnal love. They are beaten up, humiliated, made to pose in different manners
to be clicked, and are threatened. Their right to privacy is breeched not only
by the hired men but also by the university officials namely the Proctor, Deputy
Proctor, PRO and the Media Advisor who joins them in a few minutes as they act
in connivance with them.

Fooled by the University authorities that the matter will remain
confidential, the photos of Professor Siras along with the juicy story of a pervert's sexcapade with a rickshaw puller
is released to the media which forms the headlines of newspapers the next dawn.
What follows is unpleasant, ugly and painful. He is hounded by the media, pried
by his colleagues, ostracized socially and suspended from his job. He frets
even at a feeble voice on his door or outside his flat. His basic amenities
like electricity is snapped and is rationed to him only for four hours late
evenings; he shifts houses from one alley to another as a nomadic clarifying
and assuring landlords and agents that he is married but stays alone because
his family is away from him; and he is influenced by his colleague and friend
Professor Sridharan who teaches Malayalam
to tender an apology letter to the authorities expecting that this will
mellow the university authorities against Professor Siras, which actually goes
against him initially in the court as he conceded that he is guilty in the
letter. The vulnerability and loneliness
of the sexagenarian is played so well by Manoj Bajpai that you are in awe of
him. He is par excellent. Manoj Bajpai's Professor Siras makes you feel hurt,
vulnerable, sad, depressed, lonely and poetic with him. His act makes the
audience internalize the agony of Professor Siras.

The misconception and prejudice towards LGBT and their sexual orientation
people have in general is questioned subtly but quite poignantly in Aligarh. India
is a country where homosexuality is against the law of the land (Section 377,
IPC, 1860). This section was later reversed by an amendment done by the Delhi High
Court on 2nd July 2009. Aligarh story tells us about Professor Siras and his
ordeal after this judgment in 2009. The story of Aligarh propels further with
the entry of a Keralite, Deepu Sebastain (Rajkummar Rao) who is a journalist
for Indian Post Newspaper. Deepu happens to find Professor Siras' story in a
local newspaper and expresses his keenness to cover the same but his boss
Namitha (Dilnaz Irani) hands over the task to another colleague of his because
Namitha finds his colleague more experienced in covering sex scandals. Deepu
even questions his boss with whom he has a good rapport by asking her that how
can she belittle such a happening which cause pain and humiliation to a man of
repute as sex scandal? Deepu's insistence and his take on his colleagues report
on the story she wrote as a mere gay-right article he finally gets the nod by
his boss to pack his bag with his photojournalist, Tashi (Sumit Gulati - who
was much noted for his act as compounder Krishna in the movie Talwar) head to
meet Professor Siras to tell his story with a human angle to the world. Deepu
Sebastian's initial encounter with Professor is unwelcomed by the sexagenarian
when he comes to know that he is from media and thinks that he is yet another
journo who is part of yellow journalism.

Deepu Sebastian's patience, sensibility and persistence makes Professor
Siras to open his home to him. There are so many beautiful and soulful moments
shared between them in Aligarh that makes you sensitive, sensible and
responsible towards people, their life, emotions and choices. It makes you
think and understand human beings beyond the so called man-made boundaries of
gender, caste, region, language, sexual orientation and religion. In one such
conversation when Deepu asks Professor whether he is a 'gay'? Professor very philosophically
counter him that how can anyone restrict and define a blissful feeling of love
in just three words. Their talk on poetry and Professor Siras telling him that
poetry lies in the silence and space you find between words and lines are
touchy. Their bonding reaches a high when Professor Siras blushing when he
agrees for a selfie with Deepu. The last scenes with Deepu and Professor tugs
at your heartstrings.

Image Courtesy: Indiatimes.in

Professor Siras is urged and convinced by his well wishers, activists and
Deepu to fight a case to revoke his suspension, regain his dignity, challenge
the unlawful discrimination for being a homosexual and his right for privacy.
His fight receives an ammo when his case is taken up by a noted lawyer Anand
Grower (Ashish Vidyarthi) who is known for his stance for the rights of the
LGBT community. But Professor Siras dislikes to be labeled, and is too meek to
hold cudgel against his tormentors. This is so true and evident when the
audience find him either dozing or translating his poetries in English during
the court proceedings. His attendance in court is a mere representation for a
cause for people who are like him but then he is beyond all these
technicalities and legal nuances. His love for life is pure and beyond mortal
definitions and understandings.

Image Courtesy: tribuneindia.com (Manoj Bajpai with Hansal Mehta)

The choice of Aligarh's release is significant at such a juncture when
the debate and deliberations around
Article 377 has gained public attention and momentum. The July 2nd, 2009
ruling decriminalizing homosexuality was a welcome relief for many and then the
Supreme court of India washing it's hands saying that amending or repealing
this section lies with the parliament
and not with the judiciary on 12th December, 2013 had disheartened the LGBT community and their
well wishers. Nevertheless, the constant
and persistent efforts by the LGBT community and many activists have made the
Supreme Court recently state on 2nd February, 2016 during the hearing of
petitions submitted that all the curative petitions submitted will be relooked and
reviewed again by a five-member constitutional bench.

Ishani Banerjee's story idea and research has done wonders and reflects
throughout the film. The background music by Karan Kulkarni is good. Apurva
Asrani's editing and Satya Rai Nagpaul's Cinematography are worth mentioning.

Hansal
Mehta's treatment of a sensitive, not so comfortable and socially taboo topic
is commendable. His choice of two
high-octane actors like Manoj Bajpai and Rajkummar Rao makes Aligarh a delight to watch. The deadly
duo - Hansal Mehta and writer Apurva Asrani takes the viewers through an
exploratory journey within, to feel and understand what it means to be alone at
the autumn of one's life and that too when you are perceived as the 'other' by
a majority in the society just because your sexual orientation doesn't toe the
line. Hats off to Apurva Asrani for an honest and compelling story. Hansal
Mehta's Shahid, City Lights and now Aligarh will be always remembered in the
history of Indian cinemas for sure.

Go and
watch Aligarh to bulldoze the naysayers who says that such movies doesn't
appeal a larger audience. While I am writing this review it is sad to now that
the film had quietly been banned in Aligarh city. It is being reported by a
major daily that the city mayor and some local group, mounted a protest against
its screening. She felt the film would 'link the city with homosexuality',
which would be nothing short of a defamation. Director Hansal Mehta told TOI (as
reported in 27th feb, 2016 edition) that "This is a homophobic
decision". The scriptwriter Apurava Asrani in his media interaction (as reported in
TOI, 27 Feb, 2016) has said that "the decision reeks of
homophobia and that the opponents of the film will have to come to terms that
2% of India's population is from the LGBT community" At a time when
jingoism, communalism and unwarranted censorship are posing real challenge to
the democratic fiber of our nation, freedom of expression and unity in
diversity, Aligarh is a must watch.